曾有人把美國的商務部翻譯成 Department of Business Affairs，而英語中美國商務部的說法應該是Department of Commerce。為什么會出現這樣的問題？原因是漢語中美國“商務部”的說法是由英語Department of Commerce 翻譯而來，我們在將其翻譯回英語時，理所當然應還其本來面目，這樣英語母語人士才會明白譯者的所指。此種現象被稱作“回譯”。回譯現象不僅出現在漢譯英當中，在英譯漢中也同樣存在。例如，漢語中“國有企業”或“國企”的英譯文是state-owned enterprise，這一翻譯已被廣泛接受，已成為英語中約定俗成的說法。因此，我們在英譯漢時，也必須把state-owned enterprise 翻譯成“國有企業”或“國企”。道理似乎很容易理解，但在翻譯實踐中，應該回譯而沒有回翻譯的問題俯拾皆是。例如，有把“比基尼”（bikini）翻譯成three-point bathing suit的；也有把“航空港”（airport）翻譯為air harbor的；更有甚者，有人把戴乃迭 (Glady Yang) 的英文名字寫成Dainaidie，把著名的俄羅斯作曲家柴可夫斯基（Tchaikovsky）的名字變成了Chaikefusiji，實在令人啼笑皆非。
有些詞語在漢英兩種文字中同時存在，許多漢語中的說法來自英語，因此在翻譯時也有個“回譯”的問題，比如，當我們要把“世界大學生運動會”翻譯成英語時，我們就不能按字面翻譯為The World's University Students' Sports Meet，而應該采用英語中原來的說法 Universiad (Beijing hosted the 2001 Summer Universiad successfully.)。
下面是對“T型臺”英譯的討論，先請看國內媒體的有關英文報道：
例一：Showing off Manly Beauty onT-stage(Shanghai Star September 6, 2004)
On Nov 28th in 1999, the PARK97 bar located in Fuxing Park set up theT-Stageand covered the red carpet on it. The foreign and domestic models walked on it, combining the tradition and future; art and fashion at ease.
例二：A model descents in the air along a verticalT-stagein a "Fashion Show in the Air" held on the bank of Taiping Lake in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 23, 2004. (Xinhua photo/Dong Hongjing)
例三：People's Daily Online - Fashion Week Turns Into Feast for the Eyes：At the biannual China Fashion Week, the models paraded along theT-stagebrimming with energy, passion and a wild nature, which made them even more sexy and seductive.
從以上的例子中可以看出，作者想當然地認為“T型臺”的英語說法就是 T-stage，而沒有意識到這種說法有可能是錯誤的。我們在翻譯這類詞語時，應該具有一種意識：既然兩種文化中共有同一概念或事物，那么在兩種文字中必然會得到體現，而譯者的責任就是要找到兩種文字中對同一概念或事物的對應說法，在翻譯時養成這種查證的習慣非常重要，它可以使我們避免許多不該出現的錯誤。人們大都知道 catwalk 是“走貓步”的意思，并不知道該詞也有“T型臺”的意思，請看 WordNet Dictionary 對 catwalk 的定義：
catwalk：the long, narrow stage that models walk along in a fashion show.
再看另外兩個定義：
catwalk: narrow platform; "Models displayed clothes on a catwalk at the fashion show".
catwalk: a narrow platform extending from the stage into the audience in a theater or nightclub etc.
實際上，catwalk還有一個意思是指建筑上懸在高空的狹窄過道（a narrow path, raised above the ground, often built for workers to walk on outside a building that is being built or repaired），這大概就是為什么用 catwalk 來表示時裝表演的舞臺的緣故吧。
時裝模特表演的舞臺有時也未必都是T型，還包括L型或直線型，除了catwalk的說法之外，runaway ( 機場跑道) 和ramp （高速公路的引接式坡道）也可以指時裝模特表演的舞臺。請看 WordNet Dictionary 對 runway 的定義:
runway: this is the place where you walk when you're giving a live fashion presentation. It is also referred to as a catwalk or ramp and is always elevated above the crowd. A runway can be shaped like a "T", an "L" or a straight line.
知道了英語中“T形臺”的說法，并不意味著就能夠很好地運用該詞，我們還必須了解它在句子中的用法、通常與哪些詞匯搭配等等，這就需要我們通過例句進一不學習提高。請看下面的catwalk用法舉例：
1. Ever wondered how a design gets from the sketchbook to the catwalk?
2. Suzie Ward walked onto the catwalk and won the Young Model of the Year Competition.
3. Full of confidence, the lanky all blond models sway on the catwalk with measured
steps one foot straight after the other.
4. The background music stopped and was replaced by an expectant hum, then that too ceased as the curtains parted and a man in a dinner jacket and black bow tie stepped out onto the catwalk.
5. Paraded down the catwalk by a dancer named Micheline Bernardi this new swimsuit designed by Louis Réard took the world's breath away.
6. She is slim with blonde hair and looks like a catwalk model.
7. People who don't know anything about it might assume that it simply involves standing in front of a camera or walking down a catwalk.
另外還需強調，catwalk和runway除了可以互換使用外，還通常放在一起使用，例如：
Experience: Catwalk/Runway Fashion Parades; Photographic (ad campaigns, fashion, photographic showcases/displays, portfolios); ...
I am available for work in Print, Sport, Glamour, Catwalk/Runway, Art, Promotional, Stage, TV/Film,...
最后需要指出，漢語中的“T型臺”在泛指時裝表演舞臺的時候，其意義與 Catwalk/Runway 相同，而如果要特別強調舞臺為T字型時，則可以說 "T" stage 或"T" shaped runway。請看下面的例子：
Large "T" shaped runway
36' runway w/ 32' "T" stage
"T" shape runwaywith black and white walls and black stripe
"T" shape runwaywith 8' and 12' high walls
"T" shape runwaywith 8' high backdrop walls
The club is on the smaller side but nice and cozy.The stage is in the popular"T" shape with catwalk.
結論：翻譯時不能夠想當然，必須要有“回譯”意識。有些從英文翻譯過來的中文是意譯而不是直譯的，那么在將其回譯成英文時，就不能按照中文的字面意思去進行直譯，而必須還原成英語原來的說法。 |
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